Method of making paper yarn



Dec. 5, 1950 H. D. KITCHEN 2,532,923

METHOD OF MAKING PAPER YARN Filed Jan. 24, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 METHOD OF MAKING PAPER YARN Barry D. Kitchen, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Sackner Products, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,376

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in method of making paper yarn.

The main objects of this invention are: v

First, to provide a paper yam'having a spiral stripe thereon which is well adapted for use as a. yarn in producing color effects in a woven fabric.

Second, to provide a method of producing yarn having a spiral stripe from a single ribbon or strip of paper.

Third, to provide a method of producing yarn well adapted for use in weaving fabrics and the like which may be economically practiced and produces yarn which is strong and one in which the stripe producing the variegated effect is not displaced in weaving or in use.

Fourth, to provide a paper yarn consisting of a single ribbon of paper and having a spirally positioned stripe thereon of color contrasting with the color of the paper.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the steps of one method of my invention and an apparatus for practicing the same, various parts of the apparatus being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ribbon of paper stock employed in the method of producing the yarn of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating one of the steps in the method of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a step of the method in which the cylindrical strand of Fig. 3 has been compressed and conformed to a flat strand.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a strand as shown in Fig. 4 to which a stripe has been printed or otherwise applied.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the twisting of the strand of Fig. 5 into a yarn.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the completed yarn produced by the steps illustrated in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a I strand produced by a modified step of my method.

Fig. 9 is a, fragmentary perspective view illustrating a still further modification of the method of my invention.

The yarn of this invention and as produced by the applicant's method is formed from a single ribbon or strip of paper as distinguished from a plurality of ribbon or strips of paper. The applicant is aware that paper yarns of variegated colors have been produced by twisting together strips of paper of two or more colors. In such yarns there is usually a wide variation in the relationship of the colors in the yarn. Applicant is able to produce a yarn having a colored spirally disposed stripe in which the convolutions or spirals of the stripe are very uniformly disposed and the stripe may be relatively narrow to produce color effects when the yarn is woven into a fabric.

In the accompanying drawing I represents a ribbon or strip of paper 10f suitable width and quality, good tissue paper being suitable and desirable. In the method illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the strip I is crumpled and conformed into a strand 2 of generally round or cylindrical section being substantially compressed during this conforming. The round strand 2 is then flattened and compressed into a flat strand 3. Following this flattenin and compressing into the strand 3, a colored stripe 4 is printed or otherwise applied on the one side of the strand 3 desirably at one side of the longitudinal center thereof as shown in Fig. 5. The strand 3 is then spirally twisted on itself into the yarn 5 with the stripe 4 on the outer side and forming a spiral stripe around the yarn as shown in Fig. 7, the stripe being conventionally illustrated. The stripe may be of any desired color contrasting with the paper. Ordinarily the paper is white or substantially white but it may be colored, the stripe should, however, be of contrasting color with the paper.

In Fig. 1 a roll of ribbon or strip paper I is provided, this ribbon is guided by the guide roll 6 to a moistening roll I dipping into the tank 8. The moistened ribbon or strip I is passed through a crumpling and compressing throat or device 9, shown conventionally in Fig. 1, resulting in the cylindrical strand 2. This strand 2 is then passed between a pair of compression rolls III resulting in the strand 2 being compressed and conformed to the flat section 3. This flattened strand 3 is passed over the supporting roller II disposed in operative relation with the printing roller I2 supplied with coloring matter from the fountain roller I3. This prints or applies the stripe 4 which as stated is desirably at one side of the longitudinal center of the flattened strand 3 and extends longitudinally of the strand. The flattened and striped strand is then passed to a asaacas twisting device, designated generally by the numeral I4, which results in twisting the strand into the yarn 5. Such twisting devices are known in the art. It should, however, be so operated that the colored stripe is on the outer side of the yarn as is shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

This results in forming a yarn from a single strip or ribbon of paper, the yarn having a contrasting stripe spirally disposed about the same, the stripe being of very uniform character and uniformly positioned throughout the length of the yarn. This feature of the stripe being of substantially uniform width and of uniform disposition on the yarn is an important one and so far as applicant is aware a feature that has never been accomplished. The forming of the single ribbon or strip of paper conformed and compacted also results in a very strong yarn.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 8 the flat strand I is formed by folding the ribbon or strip of paper upon itself into multifolds or plies to secure the strand of desired strength and thickness. The stripe I6 is printed or otherwise produced upon this folded strand l5. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 the ribbon of paper or strip of paper I! has the stripe I. printed or otherwise produced thereon prior to the folding. The ribbon of paper is then folded upon itself, as indicated at l9, to produce the strand is with the stripe extending longitudinally thereof.

In the practice of all three of the methods the stripe is uniformly positioned about the yarn which is of very great advantage as it enables the producing of a uniform fabric. As stated, the applicant is aware of multicolored paper yarns having been produced by twisting together different colored strips of paper but it is difllcult to produce a uniform disposition of colors, the strips are likely to be displaced in weaving or handling and there is much more tendency to untwist than in the applicant's yarn formed of a single strip or ribbon of paper by applicant's method. Further, applicant can produceyarns in a very wide variety of colors with very little expense and can match other yarns or contrast with other yarns used in weaving of fabrics as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of crumpling and compressing a strip of paper into a strand of generally cylindrical section, further compressing and conforming the strand into a flattened section of substantially uniform width and thickness, forming a colored stripe on one side of the flattened strand and at one side of the longitudinal center thereof, and twisting the flattened strand into a yarn with the stripe on the outer side thereof, the stripe when the strand is twisted forming a spiral stripe on the surface of the yarn.

- 2. The method of making paper yarn from a strip of paper comprising the steps of folding the strip longitudinally upon itself into a flat multiply strand, forming a colored stripe longitudinally of the strand at one side of the longitudinal center thereof and spirally twisting the strand into a yarn with the colored stripe spiraling about the strand.

3. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of forming a strip of paper into a flat strand of substantially uniform width and of a thickness substantially exceeding thethick- 4 ness of the paper from which the strand is formed, applying a stripe of ,color contrasting with the color of the paper longitudinally of the strand, and twisting the strand into a yarn with the colored stripe on the surface thereof and spiraling about the strand.

4. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of crumpling and comprusing a strip of paper into a strand, compressing and conforming the strand to a flattened section, applying a stripe of color to one side of the flattened strand, and twisting the flattened strand with the stripe extending spirally on the outer side thereof.

5. The method of making paper yarn from a strip of paper comprising the steps of conforming the strip into a flat strand of a thickness substantially exceeding the thickness of the paper and with a continuous colored stripe extending longitudinally of the strand on one side thereof and in parallel spaced relation to its longitudinal edges, and spirally twisting the strand into a yarn with the colored stripe extending spirally about the strand.

6. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of forming a strip of paper into a flat strand of a thickness substantially exceeding the thickness of the paper from which the strand is formed, applying a stripe of color contrasting with the color of the paper longitudinally of the strand, and twisting the strand into a yarn with the colored stripe on the surface thereof.

7. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of printing a stripe on a ribbon of paper, folding the ribbon of paper longitudinally of itself to provide a multiply strand and with the stripe on the outer side of the multiply strand and extending longitudinally thereof in spaced relation to its longitudinal edges, and spirally twisting the strand into a yarn with the stripe on the surface and disposed spirally about the same.

8. The method of making paper yam comprising the steps of folding a ribbon of paper having a longitudinal stripe thereon longitudinally upon itself to provide a strand of multiply thickness and with the stripe on the outer side of the multiply strand and extending longitudinally thereof in spaced relation to its longitudinal edges, and spirally twisting the strand into a yarn with the stripe on the surface thereof.

9. The method of making paper yarn comprising the steps of forming a strip of paper into a flat strand of a thickness substantially exceeding the thickness of the paper from which the strand is formed and having a stripe of color contrasting with the color of the paper extending longitudinally of the strand and in spaced relation to its longitudinal edges, and twisting the strand into a yarn with the colored stripe spirally disposed on the surface thereof.

HARRY D. KITCHEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Katz Aug. 30, 1938 

